Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta

CHEER
(ACROBATIC)
Cheer (Acrobatic)
Higher Risk Sport
The following sections must also be consulted: All Interschool Athletic Activities,
Indoor Activities, Outdoor Activities, Off-site Activities.
All Physical
Activities
pg. 1l-17
Indoor Activities
pg. 19-20
Outdoor Activities
pg. 23-24
Off-site Activities
pg. 33-35
Supervision
• Constant visual supervision is recommended for initial skill instruction and
until student athletes demonstrate competence in the skill.
• Constant visual supervision is recommended whenever student athletes are
stunting, i.e. performing lifts, pyramids, tossing, etc.
• On-site supervision is recommended when student athletes are practicing or
performing cheer or dance skills, after all safety concerns have been
emphasized.
• Teachers/coaches should have completed the Alberta Cheerleading
Association’s Coaches’ Certification Program.
• Teachers/coaches should employ hands-on spotting at all times until skills are
mastered.
• All team members should be trained to employ hands-on spotting at all times
for all skills, until they are mastered.
• Teachers/coaches should secure a safe cheering environment at games, e.g.,
keep fans away from team space.
• Teachers/coaches should attend/oversee all game cheerleading sessions as well
as competitions.
• If gymnastics is a component of the team’s skill package, teachers/coaches
should learn essential teaching and spotting techniques for elements typically
being used in cheerleading, e.g., handspring, tuck, round-off handspring,
cartwheel.
Instructional Considerations
• Safety and spotting skills should be addressed first.
• ‘Tops’ and ‘bases’ of the pyramid should learn the responsibilities of other
members in spotting/catching.
• Student athletes should be aware of how a stunt will properly dismount prior to
building the stunt.
• Strength and conditioning should be an integral part of the training of acrobatic
cheerleaders.
• Safety regulations and rules should apply to all cheerleading situations.
• In adverse weather conditions:
o stunting and pyramid building should be reduced;
o tossed skills (except chair sit) should stop
o all lifts should be secured with additional hands-on spotters;
o extended lifts should not be performed;
o tumbling should not be allowed.
Equipment/Facilities
• Carpeted gymnastics mat strips, wrestling mats or Velcro foldout mats should
be used.
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Safety Guidelines for Secondary Interschool Athletics in Alberta - February 2012